Taila Santos

Last updated
Taila Santos
BornTaila Santos
(1993-06-22) June 22, 1993 (age 30)
Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division Flyweight
Reach68.0 in (173 cm) [1]
Style Muay Thai
Fighting out of Balneário Camboriú, Brazil
TeamAstra Fight Team
RankBlue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [2]
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins20
By knockout10
By submission4
By decision6
Losses3
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Taila Santos [3] (born June 22, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Flyweight division. She has previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she challenged for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.

Contents

Background

With her father being a Muay Thai coach, she started training it at the age of 16, soon afterwards being enrolled in a championship at Chute Boxe of Curitiba, which Taila went to win. Taila started to train Jiu-Jitsu, with her father organizing an MMA fight so that Taila could debut in the sport. She went and won again. Afterwards, her father contacted Marcelo Brigadeiro to organize the trip to Astra Fight, in Balneário Camboriú, where she resides today. [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After going the distance in her 2013 pro debut, she would go on to finish her next 10 bouts in the first round. In 2016, her one appearance came against Laisa Coimbra for the Aspera FC Bantamweight Championship. She won the title with an 87-second knockout — via a punch to the body. Taila set to fight with fellow Brazilian prospect Mariana Morais, but Morais withdrew from the Aspera FC 32 bout. Being booked for her Invicta FC debut against Irene Aldana, Santos had to pull out due to visa issues. [4]

After two year layoff, she was invited onto Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 where she faced off at Flyweight against Estefani Almeida. She won the unanimous decision and earned a UFC contract. [5]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Santos made her UFC debut against Mara Romero Borella on February 2, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2. [6] She lost the fight by split decision. [7]

Taila faced Molly McCann on 16 July 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige. [8] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [9]

Santos was scheduled to face Maryna Moroz on December 5, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori. However on November 18, it was announced that Moroz had to pull out and she was replaced by Montana De La Rosa. [10] Just hours before the event, the UFC decided to remove the fight after one of De La Rosa's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. [11] Santos was then rescheduled to face Gillian Robertson two weeks later at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal. [12] Santos won the fight via unanimous decision. [13]

Santos was scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 24. [14] However, Modafferi was forced to pull out from the event citing a meniscus tear. [15]

Santos was scheduled to face Mandy Böhm on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. [16] However, Santos was pulled from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Ariane Lipski. [17]

Santos faced Roxanne Modafferi in a flyweight bout on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. [18] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [19]

Santos faced Joanne Wood on November 20, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 198. [20] After knocking Wood down twice, Santos won the bout via rear-naked choke at the end of the first round. [21] This fight earned her the Performance of the Night award. [22]

Santos faced Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. [23] She lost the close bout by split decision, becoming the first fighter to win on a judge's scorecard against Shevchenko, in the flyweight division. [24]

Santos was scheduled to face Erin Blanchfield on February 18, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 219. [25] The main event fight between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera was rescheduled to another event, and Santos' fight against Blanchfield was promoted to the main event. [26] However, just one week out from the event, Santos withdrew after her cornermen were denied visas into the United States and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade. [27] [28]

The match with Erin Blanchfield was rebooked and took place on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225. [29] She lost the bout via unanimous decision. [30]

On November 7, 2023, it was announced that Santos was no longer under contract with the UFC. [31]

Professional Fighters League

On March 1, 2024, it was reported that Santos signed with Professional Fighters League. [32]

Santos was scheduled to make her debut against Denise Kielholtz on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1. [33] However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out and she would instead face llara Joanne. [34] Santos won the bout by a rear-naked choke submission at the end of the first round. [35] [36]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches20 wins3 losses
By knockout100
By submission40
By decision63
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win20–3Ilara JoanneSubmission (rear-naked choke) PFL 1 (2024) April 4, 202413:57 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Loss19–3 Erin Blanchfield Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie August 26, 202335:00 Kallang, Singapore
Loss19–2 Valentina Shevchenko Decision (split) UFC 275 June 12, 202255:00 Kallang, SingaporeFor the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win19–1 Joanne Wood Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate November 20, 202114:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win18–1 Roxanne Modafferi Decision (unanimous) UFC 266 September 25, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win17–1 Gillian Robertson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal December 19, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win16–1 Molly McCann Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige July 16, 202035:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss15–1 Mara Romero Borella Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 February 2, 201935:00 Fortaleza, Brazil
Win15–0Estefani AlmeidaDecision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 August 11, 201835:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesReturn to Flyweight.
Win14–0Laisa CoimbraKO (punch to the body)Aspera FC 43August 13, 201611:27 Paranaguá, BrazilWon the vacant Aspera FC Bantamweight Championship.
Win13–0Bruna RossoKO (elbow)K.O. Combate 2November 21, 201523:06 Caçador, Brazil
Win12–0Gisele MoreiraDecision (unanimous)Aspera FC 23August 16, 201535:00 Joinville, Brazil
Win11–0Gisele PereiraTKO (head kick)Aspera FC 20June 6, 201511:06 Navegantes, Brazil
Win10–0Wellen Taynara SobrinhoTKO (doctor stoppage)Aspera FC 19May 23, 201515:00 Lages, BrazilFlyweight bout.
Win9–0Ana Paula da SilvaTKO (punches)Noxii Combat 1May 17, 201512:12 Joinville, Brazil
Win8–0Juliana MartinsSubmission (keylock)Aspera FC 17April 4, 201510:48 Curitibanos, Brazil
Win7–0Daniela Cristina PatriciaTKO (elbows)Aspera FC 16March 29, 201510:26 Joinville, Brazil
Win6–0Gabriela BuenoSubmissionMMA Total Combat 2March 21, 201511:17 São Bento do Sul, Brazil
Win5–0Marta SouzaKO (punch)Aspera FC 15February 1, 201512:36 Itapema, Brazil
Win4–0Rachael CumminsTKO (punches)XFC International 6September 27, 201414:28 São Paulo, BrazilReturn to Bantamweight.
Win3–0Geisyele NascimentoKO (head kick)University of Champions 1July 5, 201410:30 Curitiba, BrazilFlyweight debut.
Win2–0Kessiny MaraTKO (punches)Aspera FC 4March 1, 201412:20 Itapema, Brazil
Win1–0 Josiane Nunes de Lima Decision (unanimous)Striker's House Cup 31November 23, 201335:00 Curitiba, BrazilBantamweight debut.

[38]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxanne Modafferi</span> American mixed martial artist

Roxanne Vincenta Modafferi is an American retired mixed martial artist, who most recently fought for the UFC. Though she last fought in the flyweight division, she has fought in multiple weight classes in her career. She has been a professional competitor since 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Maia</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter

Jennifer Maia is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Women's Flyweight division. Maia trains at Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil.A professional since 2009, Maia is most notable for her 12 bout stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and for being the former Invicta FC Flyweight World Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jéssica Andrade</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist

Jéssica Andrade is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. Andrade is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she competes in the women's Strawweight and Flyweight divisions and is a former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion. As of January 23, 2024, she is #4 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings, #5 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings, and #11 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexa Grasso</span> Mexican mixed martial artist (born 1993)

Alexa Grasso is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the current UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. She is also a UFC analyst for UFC Español for Spanish broadcasts. As of June 20, 2023, she is ranked #1 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

JJ Aldrich is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division. She is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has fought for Invicta FC.

Maryna Moroz is a Ukrainian professional mixed martial artist, signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she competes in the Women's Flyweight division. Moroz is also a boxing coach for the Ukrainian Olympic women's boxing team.

Andrea Lee is an American kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division. She is currently signed with UFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sijara Eubanks</span> American mixed martial artist

Sijara Jihan Eubanks is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montana De La Rosa</span> American mixed martial artist

Montana De La Rosa is an American mixed martial artist (MMA). She currently competes in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Robertson</span> Canadian mixed martial artist

Gillian Robertson is a Canadian mixed martial artist (MMA). She currently competes in the Strawweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of January 23, 2024, she is #15 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

Miranda Maverick is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She competed in Flyweight division of the Invicta Fighting Championships. As of March 26, 2024, she is #15 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molly McCann</span> English mixed martial artist (born 1990)

Molly McCann is an English mixed martial artist. She is a former Cage Warriors Flyweight Champion and currently competes in the women's strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Maycee Barber is an American mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of March 12, 2024, she is #4 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings and as of March 26, 2024, she is #14 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Erin Blanchfield is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is a former Eddie Bravo Invitational champion. As of April 2, 2024, she is #3 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings and as of April 9, 2024, she is #8 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariane Lipski</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist

Ariane Lipski is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She is a former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion and currently competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 26 March 2024, she is #12 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

Viviane Araújo is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She is a former Pancrase strawweight champion and currently competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of March 26, 2024, she is #10 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norma Dumont</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter

Norma Dumont is a Brazilian mixed martial artist in the Featherweight division who fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of April 9, 2024, she is #9 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC 266</span> 2021 MMA event

UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 25, 2021, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manon Fiorot</span> French mixed martial artist

Manon Fiorot is a French mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of April 2, 2024, she is #2 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings and #4 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield</span> Mixed martial arts event in 2023

UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 18, 2023, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.

References

  1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  2. 1 2 "Taila Santos | UFC". UFC.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  3. Mixed martial arts show results Date: August 11, 2018
  4. 1 2 Bryan Henderson (2016-12-04). "Out of Obscurity: Emerging Stars to Watch For in 2017". combatpress.com. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  5. John Morgan (2018-08-31). "Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 results: Three more contracts awarded". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  6. "Six fights added to UFC Fortaleza". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  7. "UFC Fortaleza results: Mara Romero Borella takes split call over Taila Santos". MMAjunkie. 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  8. Marcel Dorff (10 June 2020). "Molly McCann treft Taila Santos tijdens UFC evenement op 15 juli in Abu Dhabi" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  9. Doherty, Dan (2020-07-15). "UFC Fight Island 1 Results: Taila Santos Outmatches Molly McCann". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  10. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-11-17). "With Maryna Moroz out, Montana De La Rosa steps in to face Taila Santos at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 5". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  11. Damon Martin and Guilherme Cruz (2020-12-05). "Montana De La Rosa vs. Taila Santos scrapped from UFC Vegas 16 card due to positive COVID-19 test". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  12. Jay Anderson (2020-12-05). "Gillian Robertson now fights Taila Santos at UFC Vegas 17". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  13. Anderson, Jay (2020-12-19). "UFC Vegas 17 Results: Taila Santos Fends Off Gillian Robertson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  14. Marcel Dorff (2021-03-03). "Roxanne Modafferi vs. Taila Santos toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 8 mei". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  15. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-04-07). "Roxanne Modafferi out of Taila Santos bout on May 8 due to meniscus injury". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  16. Marcelo Barone (2021-05-24). "UFC sets fight between Taila Santos and Mandy Bohm for August". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-24.(in Portuguese)
  17. Cruz, Guilherme (2021-08-02). "UFC moves Sept. 4 event from London to Las Vegas, Ariane Lipski replaces Taila Santos vs. Mandy Bohm". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  18. Marcel Dorff (2021-08-19). "Meerdere updates UFC partijen voor verschillende evenementen". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  19. Anderson, Jay (2021-09-25). "UFC 266 Results: Taila Santos Dominates Veteran Modafferi". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  20. Marcel Dorff (2021-10-08). "Taila Santos vervangt Alexa Grasso tegen Joanne Calderwood tijdens UFC evenement op 20 november". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  21. Anderson, Jay (2021-11-20). "UFC Vegas 43: Taila Santos Submits Joanne Wood In Opening Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  22. 1 2 Staff (2021-11-20). "UFC Fight Night 198 bonuses: Adrian Yanez, Davey Grant's intense battle among just three total winners". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  23. Shelton, Cole (2022-03-02). "Valentina Shevchenko set to defend flyweight title at UFC 275 against Taila Santos". | BJPenn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  24. Anderson, Jay (2022-06-12). "UFC 275: Valentina Shevchenko Holds on, Decisions Santos for Seventh Title Defense". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  25. "UFC books Taila Santos vs. Erin Blanchfield for February event". MMA Junkie. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  26. Burne, Kathrine (4 February 2023). "EBI Champion Erin Blanchfield Gets First Main Event Fight At UFC Vegas 69". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  27. Damon Martin (2023-02-11). "Jessica Andrade now faces Erin Blanchfield in new UFC Vegas 69 main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  28. Critchfield, Triston. "Jessica Andrade replaces Taila Santos, Meets Erin Blanchfield at UFC Fight Night 219".
  29. Harvey Leonard (2023-06-23). "Taila Santos vs. Erin Blanchfield Rebooked For UFC Singapore On August 26". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  30. Law, Eddie (2023-08-26). "Relentless Pace, Takedown Attack, Earn Erin Blanchfield A Decision Victory Over Santos". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  31. Cruz, Guilherme (2023-11-07). "UFC parts ways with former flyweight title contender Taila Santos". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  32. Lee, Alexander K. (2024-03-01). "Former UFC contender Taila Santos signs with PFL". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  33. Cruz, Guilherme (2024-03-11). "PFL announces full line-ups for first 3 season events, 8 ex-Bellator champions debut". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  34. "Cappelozza removed from PFL card on April 4". ESPN.com. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  35. Staff (2024-04-04). "2024 PFL 1: Delija vs. Moldavsky Full Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  36. "Taila Santos survives power shots, pulls off sudden submission to score six points". pflmma.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "UFC Women's Flyweight - Stats". ufc.com. September 6, 2013.
  38. Sherdog.com. "Taila Santos". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.